Palpable excitement describes superb year, new custom coatings, and gains in new customers

• Completely customized new Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 41? 15-unit press’s advanced technology propels firm into new markets
• Strong 30% job production increase with new capabilities
• New Rapida press surpasses expectations of the firm’s business plan

On any given day, colorful sheets designed to become luxurious packaging are being printed, specially coated, embossed, hot stamped, and die-cut at the headquarters of Curtis Packaging in Sandy Hook, Connecticut, destined for some of the most high-end globally-recognized iconic brand retailers within the health and beauty, sports, liquor, entertainment, computer software and pharmaceutical markets.

To make all of this magic happen, Curtis invested in an incredible 29” x 41”, 15-unit Koenig & Bauer UV press in 2018. “This is the only press in the world with our unique configuration allowing us to apply up to 11 colors and four separate coatings all in one pass,” says Don Droppo Jr, president and CEO of Curtis Packaging. “The investment in this completely customized Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 press gives our company endless possibilities.”

Immediately after it was installed, this special Rapida 106 press was producing amazing work up to its customer’s high expectations and already reducing internal costs. “We’re gaining a 65% improvement in our changeover times with this press,” says Kerry C. Brown, vice president of operations. “Since then, we’ve been able to line-up so much work and it has increased our sales dramatically. The press is easily paying for itself. With our new Rapida 106 we’ve seen a 30% increase in job production output on this press. We could not be more pleased.”

As an established leader in the luxury packaging market, Curtis has recently gained at least 10 to 15 new customers. “2019 is turning into our best year yet,” says Droppo. “We’re posting strong 20% sales growth. Our clients are ramped into hyper drive. The investment in the new Koenig & Bauer press is contributing to this growth. It’s giving us higher speeds, faster production, and increased embellishments with only one pass. This new press has certainly surpassed the expectations of our business plan.”

To maintain Curtis’ exceptional printing promise, the firm has invested in a suite of presses from Koenig & Bauer. The latest Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 press beautifully complements the firm’s seven- and eight-color all-UV Koenig & Bauer Rapida 130 presses. Curtis can competitively run as little as 500 sheets to over five million sheets.

To efficiently manage all of these jobs, performance data from the new Rapida 106 press is automatically captured for analysis via Koenig & Bauer’s LogoTronic Professional, which provides detailed reports on every activity taking place on the press. The system also includes Logotronic Cockpit, which provides detailed reports on the OEE performance of the Rapida 106 press. With these systems in place, Curtis management is able to record and analyze its press data to ensure excellent print quality as well as measure its impressive 20% gains in impression count and waste reduction.

Curtis enjoys opening its unique headquarters for customer visits. “We had a valued client who came to visit while we were printing their job,” says Brown. “Their graphic designer came along too and brought a new design that they wanted to print as well. We were able to produce both high-end jobs in 10 minutes with our new Rapida press using its amazing color control and one-pass efficiency. We knocked it out of the ballpark.”

Curtis Packaging is a leading provider of luxury packaging solutions for some of the world’s top brands. It manufactures high quality folding cartons for the most discerning global brands. It draws inspiration from the creative human spirit, which it uses to create high quality products of outstanding beauty and enduring value. Every paperboard carton the firm creates passes through the hands of many experienced packaging professionals. Each touch exemplifies the dedication, knowledge, and tradition cultivated since Curtis was established in 1845. It is a global leader in both printing innovation and environmental stewardship. Curtis has a rich heritage of excellence in production, and an exemplary environmental record. Curtis is the first packaging company in North America to be 100% Carbon Neutral, use 100% Renewable Electricity, and be Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified. Responsible sourcing and material innovation are a core business practice.

www.koenig-bauer.com 
www.curtispackaging.com 

The newest investment at Curtis Packaging: a Koenig & Bauer Rapida 106 41-inch 15-unit UV press; inset: left to right: Don Droppo, president of Curtis Packaging Corporation; Chris Travis, Koenig & Bauer director of technology; and Kerry C. Brown, vice president of operations; believe the new press is contributing to its 20% sales growth.